MESA, Ariz. -- Albert Almora, the Cubs' No. 1 Draft pick in 2012, broke the hamate bone in his left hand during a swing Thursday in a game at the Minor League camp, and he is expected to be out until mid May.

The injury was not believed to be a serious, and Cubs officials said Almora, the Cubs' No. 2 prospect, will have the bone removed. He was expected to resume baseball activities in three to four weeks.

"It's not a career problem, more a pain-in-the-butt-type thing that happens to quite a few hitters over the history of the game," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "It's a little bone that doesn't mean anything, that you don't need, [and it won't] cost him eight weeks before he gets in a game.

"The good thing is it's one of those things you take out and are done with it," Sveum said. "If you leave it in and have surgery, then [you] possibly [miss] the whole season. It's a nice injury to be done with."

The outfielder batted .321 last season for the Cubs' Arizona Rookie League and Class A Boise teams.